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Daily Archives: February 15, 2012

Philadelphia Media Network has proposed a “One Newroom” plan that includes the elimination of 37 positions. Read the Inquirer’s story and the memo. || NEW: “If the sale [to Ed Rendell & Co.] goes through, Philadelphia will become the first major city in the country to actually cease to have a real daily newspaper,” writes former Inquirer reporter Buzz Bissinger.

Before any individuals would be targeted for layoff, the company is first instituting a Voluntary Separation Program. Details of the buyout package will be distributed soon by Human Resources. The more members who step up for voluntary buyouts, the less involuntary newsroom layoffs there will be.

The buyout window is open from Feb. 16, 2012 to Feb. 29, 2012. On March 1, 2012 PMN will notify the Guild of any members who have been targeted for layoff in any category. As per our contract layoffs in any category would be handled by seniority with the least senior person being first affected. In most cases, part-time employees would be laid-off before the dismissal of full-timers in their group.

The last day of work for either volunteers or those laid off would be March 31, 2012.

The company’s decision to decimate our already-shrunken ranks is hard to comprehend given the ever-competitive 24/7 nature of today’s media landscape.

However, PMN has the contractual right to reduce the work force, and the Guild will work to make sure any job eliminations are conducted in accordance with our Collective Bargaining Agreement.

If you plan to apply for the voluntary separation program, you are to do so through Human Resources, but please first contact Guild Executive Director Bill Ross at the Guild office 215-928-xxxx, cell 267-240-xxxx or [email address].

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to get in touch.

In solidarity,

Dan Gross, President,
Bill Ross, Executive Director,
and the Executive Board of the Newspaper Guild/Communications Workers of America Local 38010

CNN and Larry King have “mutually agreed” to stop the quarterly specials that they started producing together last winter after King gave up his nightly talk show, reports Brian Stelter. “I have nothing but love and respect for CNN, and I’m looking forward to all the wonderful business opportunities that I will now dedicate my full time to,” says King, who is planning an online venture with Mexican billionaire (and New York Times investor) Carlos Slim.* CNN parts ways with Larry King after 27 years | LAT broke the story

“According to the original complaint, the plaintiffs — along with several other individuals The Cincinnati Enquirer laid off in February 2011 — were targeted because of their seniority. All were nearly 50 years old or older, while younger staffers — some who had been hired long after those let go — were kept on. In some cases, the newspaper ended up hiring younger people to assume their jobs, the complaint states.” — From Dave Malaska’s story

This New York Post headline, writes Will Bunch, “brings to mind some classic Post sports headlines from years past, like Sandy Koufax’s perfect game in 1965. ‘Jew Da Man!,’ and Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-point explosion against the Knicks (‘Blacktacular!’) and this more recent one when Jose Reyes left the Mets for Florida (“Press the Hispanic Button!”).

Kelli Ponce, editor of the University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse student paper, says a recently published piece “created a bit of turmoil, some backlash and angered some. But, I bet many thought or talked about it.” She doesn’t say which story caused the fuss — apparently everyone on campus already knows — but it appears to be the one headlined, “College girls love this column: A bro’s guide to gift giving.”

The Racquet’s editor-in-chief writes:

I wanted to provoke students to speak up about issues that enraged or excited them. Well, this article finally did it. I’m just saddened that the community hasn’t understood the satire within the column and has turned their backs to such a useful source. ….

Despite the fact that these [angry] comments all explicate the passion and disarray amongst the student body, I am not bothered or angry with any single person. I knew a response similar to this would present itself, but the situation was taken to another level when blatant animosity was expressed entirely toward The Racquet as a whole. Even professors exhibited this unprofessional behavior, and I need not mention names as I am sure you know who you are! Paying disrespect to The Racquet editors during class lectures, well, I guess we made you think as well.

We don’t expect our readers to agree with every ruling we make. We have published nearly 5,000 Truth-O-Meter ratings and it’s natural that anyone can find some they disagree with. But even if you don’t agree with every call we make, our research and analysis helps you sort out what’s true in the political discourse.

Washington Wizards owner and former AOL president Ted Leonsis complained in a blog post this morning that “it appears no local Wizards blogger stayed up late and wrote about the [Wizards vs. Trail Blazers] game in real time.” (He says he got up at 5:30 a.m. and didn’t see the final score on any blogs.) The team owner added: “I am sure they will do a good job later today; but without NBC local and the Post – I wouldn’t have the data that I wanted and needed. Thank goodness for professional media in this regard.”